BANGKOK, Aug 28 – Thailand’s contestant team from Dhurakij Pundit University on Sunday won the ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2011 after beating a compatriot team in the final round of the contest.
The theme of this year’s contest was inspired by Thailand’s Loy Kratong festival, therefore each of the robots was constructed to float in the water.
“Luk Chaomae Klong Prapa, The Limited” a team from Dhurakij Pundit University, earlier won over a Japanese team in the quarterfinal round and defeated an Indonesian team in semi-finals.
In the final round, it met with “Soomkor,” the Thai team from Kampaengphet Technical College which earlier beat teams from Hong Kong and Vietnam, in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. The Vietnamese opponent was also the three-time reigning champion of the contest.
The team from Dhurakij Pundit triumphed over “Soomkor” in a spirited final held at Impact Arena, Muangthongthani, and was also bestowed the “Best Design Award.”
Teams from 18 countries and one special economic zone attended the 2011 robotics contest held in Bangkok. Minister to Science and Technology Plodprasob Surasawadi presided over the contest.
In 2000, member countries of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) jointly agreed to organize an annual handmade robot contest to be participated by college, university and polytechnic students, with the objective of developing knowledge, creativity and innovation among young people in the region.
The first ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, known as ABU Robocon, was launched in Tokyo, Japan in 2002. This year marks the tenth anniversary of ABU Robocon, and the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT), had the honor of hosting this year’s event, on behalf of Thailand.
